The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus clarified on Friday that comments attributed to him regarding the allocation of North Carolina’s presidential electors to Donald Trump before the official counting of votes were misrepresented and taken out of context.
Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland made these remarks during a Republican dinner where he conversed with a pro-Trump activist after the activist’s keynote address. During this discussion, the activist proposed that state legislatures, including North Carolina’s, could convene on Election Day to award their electors to Trump. Politico was the first to report on Harris’s comments made at this event.
Following the discussion, Harris spoke about the counties in western North Carolina that had experienced significant damage from Hurricane Helene. Referring to the activist’s suggestion, he remarked, “for North Carolina, that makes a lot of sense,” as seen in a video recording of the event.
He elaborated, “You can statistically argue: ‘Look, you’ve got disenfranchised voters in 25 counties. You can estimate what that vote would be, and if I were in the legislature, it would be sufficient reason to say we need to reconvene and ensure voters aren’t disenfranchised.’ But how does one make a similar case in other states? Otherwise, it appears to be just a power grab.” He added, “In North Carolina, however, this is a legitimate concern, as there are many who may not be able to vote, which could potentially impact the outcome in that state.”
Despite Harris’s statements, the current laws in North Carolina seem to restrict such actions. The state’s legal framework concerning presidential electors only permits the General Assembly to intervene in extreme situations after an election if established procedures have not been fulfilled. Attempting to override the voters’ decisions and propose an alternative slate of electors could also breach the Electoral Count Act established by Congress after Trump’s effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results.
Attempts to reach out for comments from North Carolina’s Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, both Republicans, were unsuccessful. Following the fallout from the dinner conversation, Harris issued a statement asserting that his earlier remarks had been misconstrued. He reiterated his stance that “every legal vote should be counted.” He also noted that “voting is progressing well in western North Carolina.”
There has been bipartisan synergy around enhancing voter access in counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Earlier this month, the North Carolina State Board of Elections, which includes both Democratic and Republican members, unanimously agreed to a resolution that broadens opportunities for absentee ballot pickup and provides local boards with greater flexibility.
This week, the Republican-led General Assembly passed legislation to extend these improvements to the 25 impacted counties. Additionally, a newly approved bill mandates that 13 mountain counties must establish at least one early in-person voting site for every 30,000 registered voters as quickly as possible.
Across the state, early voting, including in areas severely impacted by the hurricane, has been vigorous. The state elections board has frequently commended local election workers for their dedication to enabling all citizens to participate in the electoral process.
In response to Harris’s comments, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the Democratic presidential nominee, stated, “America deserves leaders who honor the significance of free and fair elections—one of the foundational pillars of our democracy—and that these elections are not influenced by political figures for their personal benefit or political maneuvering.” She emphasized, “This must prioritize the best interests of the American people.”